ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - In the run-up to the final Window of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers scheduled for later this month in Angola and Egypt, we look at the historical numbers behind the competition. 

The FIBA World Cup Qualifiers as it is now was launched in November 2017, following the implementation of FIBA's new competition system, and since then, a number of events and facts have shaped the history of the competition.

Without further ado, here are the numbers behind the African Qualifiers.

21

PLAYERS WITH MOST GAMES PLAYED IN THE HISTORY OF THE AFRICAN QUALIFIERS

At times, selecting players for major tournaments has proven challenging for national teams, but that's not the case for some individuals who have always found ways to represent their countries. 

Gerson Domingos (Angola), Youssef Aboushousha (Egypt), and Tunisia's trio Omar Abada, Mourad El Mabrouk and Makram Ben Romdhane currently hold the title for most games in the World Cup African Qualifiers with 21 appearances each. 

256 points

ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER

When it comes to spearheading his team there is none like Tunisia's Omar Abada, who leads the African Qualifiers' all-time scoring list with 256 points (35 points more than his countryman Makram Ben Romdhane). 

In the meantime, Egypt's Ehab Amin leads all players in the 2023 African Qualifiers with 128 points accrued in nine games.

36

JORDAN NWORA'S REMAINS UNSCATHED 

There's been a number of jaw-dropping performances in the African Qualifiers, but Jordan Nwora's game-high 36 points - an African Qualifiers record - remains unscathed.

On July 1, 2018, Nwora inspired Nigeria to a 93-53 win over Mali in Lagos with his out-of-this-world display, and no other player has ever been able to break that record for most points scored in a single African Qualifiers game. 

Nwora finished with a 5-of-11 three-point shooting and converted 7-of-8 free-throws to finish with 36 points.

20

YOUSSOUPHA NDOYE SETS REBOUNDING RECORD

On February 25, 2022 Senegal's center Yossoupha Ndoye made sure to enter his name in the history books of the African Qualifiers after breaking a record for most rebounds in a game that previously belonged to Central African Republic's Johan Grebongo. 

In addition to his 20 rebounds, Ndoye came up 17 points in a 75-57 win over Egypt in the First Round of Group D in in Dakar. 

10-0

CAN TUNISIA'S 10-GAME WINNING STREAK BE BROKEN?  

By the time Tunisia reached the final window of the 2019 FIBA Basketball African Qualifiers with a 9-0 record they had already qualified for China 2019.

To put the cherry on the cake, Tunisia improved their mark to 10-0 after outclassing Morocco 89-51 to establish a record for most consecutive wins in the African Qualifiers.

Eventually, Tunisia fell to Angola and Egypt to finish 10-2.

4

ALL-TIME STEALS LEADERS 

Rwanda's Jean Jacques Nshobozwabyosenumukiza is known for his aggressive defensive game, and this became clear when he set an AfroBasket Qualifiers record (14) for most steals in a win 62-58 win over South Sudan on February 19, 2021.

A few months later, he established an African Qualifiers record for most steals (7) in game. However, the historic mark was quickly tied by four other players. 

Omar Abada (Tunisia), Gerson Domingos (Angola) and Assem Marei (Egypt), all have each recorded 7 steals in one African Qualifiers. 

4

NUMBER OF DOUBLE-DOUBLE LEADERS

When Chad's Placide Nakadjim Egypt's Omar Oraby recorded four double-doubles each in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers, few expected that record to be tied soon after.

That's what Gorgui Dieng (Senegal) and Chimezie Metu (Nigeria) came up with. Both NBA players made their presence felt with huge displays to help their countries keep their World Cup's aspirations alive, after registering four double-doubles each. 

13,000

RECORD CROWD OF AFRICAN QUALIFIERS

A record for the biggest crowd in the African Qualifiers was established on November 26, 2017 in the Angolan capital Luanda.

Kilamba Arena, which will host nine of the last 18 games of the African Qualifiers later this month, saw a 13,000 crowd flock into the venue to  watch the home nation take on their neighbours of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

4

Remaining World Cup spots to be claimed from the Africa Qualifiers

With Cote d'Ivoire already qualified for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup there are now only 4 tickets available for African nations to the World Cup.

 Both, Groups E and F are wide open.

Can South Sudan secure that one win to make history and qualify for their first-ever World Cup in their first attempt? Or will there be shocking results. 

Who will join Cote d'Ivoire from Group E? Angola, Cape Verde or Nigeria? 

Stay tuned for the last battle in Africa for the 2023 World Cup.

 FIBA